TOCCOA, Ga. (Christian Examiner) – Will Hall, executive editor and director of operations for Christian Examiner, was honored with the 2015 Bo Pilgrim Award for lifelong Christian service and workplace evangelism May 3 during the first night of the Northeast Georgia GO TELL Crusade in Toccoa, Georgia.

“There is a great need for men and women who are committed to sharing the Gospel. Will is one of a few who are serious about witnessing for our Lord Jesus Christ, and he stands out among those who do.”

- Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim, Pilgrim's Pride

The annual award, initiated by the American Bible Society in 2008, is named for Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim, founder of Pilgrims' Pride, formerly the largest poultry producer in the world.

Pilgrim told Christian Examiner Hall has a heart for reaching out to the lost.

"There is a great need for men and women who are committed to sharing the Gospel. Will is one of a few who are serious about witnessing for our Lord Jesus Christ, and he stands out among those who do," Pilgrim said.

Evangelist Rick Gage, the 2010 winner, presented the award on behalf of Pilgrim, as well as a $10,000 gift. Last year's winner was Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University.

"I can't think of a more worthy recipient than my dear brother in Christ, Will. He has a heart for Jesus, compassion for the lost and an attitude of service for the Kingdom," Gage said. "I love him in the Lord."

(Courtesy Robin Rayne Nelson)Will Hall gives God the glory and thanks GO TELL Ministries for the opportunity to be part of 10 evangelistic crusades, as his wife Catherine, Evangelist Rick Gage and worship team member Rob Schieszer listen.

Hall served as crusade director for 10 GO TELL crusades, including two in Mexico, which, combined, reached more than 85,000 people with the Gospel of Christ, resulting in nearly 17,000 total spiritual commitments, including about 8,000 first time salvation decisions.

He credited his wife Catherine, whom he called a "personal soul winner," with being supportive during his trips to take part in the GO TELL outreach campaigns across North America. The travel was part of a larger effort led by Rick Gage and his team, including evangelists Steve Paysen and Jose Alvarez, as well as worship leaders Chuck Sullivan and Joy Fowler, Hall said.

"I greatly appreciate the individual honor, but the team deserves recognition, as well as the local church members who were part of the 10 campaigns and worked six to nine months in many cases preparing their churches for revival and their communities for awakening," Hall shared. "More importantly, the glory belongs to God."

(Courtesy Robin Rayne Nelson)Will Hall expresses gratitude after being presented the Bo Pilgrim Award for lifelong Christian service and workplace evangelism, with support from wife Catherine and Evangelist Rick Gage.

Hall and his wife have three sons and are members of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He formerly served as the vice-president of news services for the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee (2000-2010) where he led Baptist Press, the official news service of Southern Baptists.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Hall has earned master's degrees from the George Washington University and Harvard University and was awarded his doctorate by Vanderbilt University where he completed research about the effect of advice seeking behavior on executive decision making and the subsequent impact on organizational performance. He was licensed to the gospel ministry in 1995 by the First Southern Baptist Church, San Diego, and ordained as a deacon at Faith Baptist Church in Glenn Burnie, Maryland.

Hall was instrumental in launching Christian Examiner in October 2014 as a digital news outlet. Christian Examiner is owned by Christian Media Corporation International (CMCI), a faith-based digital news, entertainment and resource company with over 100 websites based in six countries.